The Lady of Lyons; Or, Love and PrideLytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
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The Lady of Lyons; Or, Love and Pride
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
English fiction -- 19th century
Look up! Look up, Pauline!--for I can bear
Thine eyes! The stain is blotted from my name.
I have redeem'd mine honor. I can call
On France to sanction thy divine forgiveness!
Oh, joy!--Oh, rapture! By the midnight watchfires
Thus have I seen thee! thus foretold this hour!
And 'midst the roar of battle, thus have heard
The beating of thy heart against my own!
Beau. Fool'd, duped, and triumph'd over in the hour
Of mine own victory! Curses on ye both!
May thorns be planted in the marriage-bed!
And love grow sour'd and blacken'd into hate
Such as the hate that gnaws me!
Damas. Curse away
And let me tell thee, Beauseant, a wise proverb
The Arabs have,--"Curses are like young chickens,
[Solemnly.] And still come home to roost!"
Beau. Their happiness
Maddens my soul! I am powerless and revengeless! [To MADAME.
I wish you joy! Ha! ha! the gardener's son! [Exit.
Damas [to GLAVIS]. Your friend intends to hang himself! Methinks
You ought to be his travelling companion!
Gla. Sir, you are exceedingly obliging! [Exit.
Pauline. Oh
My father, you are saved,--and by my husband!
Ah, blessed hour!
Mel. Yet you weep still, Pauline.
Pauline. But on thy breast!--these tears are sweet and holy!
M. Deschap. You have won love and honor nobly, sir!
Take her;--be happy both!
Mme. Deschap. I'm all astonish'd!
Who, then, is Colonel Morier?
Damas. You behold him!
Mel. Morier no more after this happy day!
I would not bear again my father's name
Till I could deem it spotless! The hour's come!
Heaven smiled on conscience! As the soldier rose
From rank to rank, how sacred was the fame
That cancell'd crime, and raised him nearer thee!
Mme. Deschap. A Colonel and a hero! Well, that's something!
He's wondrously improved! I wish you joy, sir!
Mel. Ah! the same love that tempts us into sin,
If it be true love, works out its redemption;
And he who seeks repentance for the Past
Should woo the Angel Virtue in the Future.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Lady of Lyons, by Edward Bulwer Lytton
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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